[title]
Modern subway signals were supposed to be the magic fix for New York’s beleaguered transit system. But according to a new report from an independent engineering consultant obtained by Gothamist, that magic wand is running on serious delay—like, years-long delay.
The MTA’s big-budget signal modernization program, which aims to replace 1930s-era technology with sleek communications-based train control (CBTC), is now officially a cautionary tale in capital planning. Of the four current upgrades in progress, every single one is behind schedule. The F line in southern Brooklyn? Running three years late. The A/C/E upgrade beneath Eighth Avenue? Delayed until at least late 2027—more than two years off the mark. And eastern Queens riders hoping for smoother F train service? Don’t hold your breath until at least March 2028.
The G train’s saga might be the most painful of all: After months of summer shutdowns, the line won’t be fully upgraded until July 2029—two years later than promised.
So what’s the holdup? At a public MTA meeting this week, officials pointed fingers in every direction: obsolete 4G transponders, contractor mistakes, not enough engineers trained to handle either the new CBTC or the old legacy systems being replaced. “It’s like having a cell phone from the year 2000,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, the MTA’s construction chief, of the outdated tech still in use.
Even completed projects have run off track. A recently finished signal upgrade in Queens was delivered four years late. Two active projects are already millions over budget, and yet the MTA is gearing up to spend another $5.4 billion on signal upgrades as part of its 2025–2029 capital plan.
Much of the push for signal modernization began in 2018 under former Transit President Andy Byford, aka “Train Daddy,” who famously brought in signal guru Pete Tomlin to oversee the work. But after a reorganization in 2019 shuffled responsibilities—and both Byford and Tomlin out the door—execution has been rocky.
As the MTA preps to relaunch its Capital Program Dashboard this fall to better track these investments, one thing is clear: If CBTC is the future of New York transit, it’s arriving on a very slow train.